Solomon Sapira: O living legend – Moinesti

Solomon Sapira: “Those little stetlah in Moldavia, forgotten by God, have always been a well of culture.”

From the forerunners – To the Jews of today

Rabanit Debora Landman:

“Glory to you and honor,

Pioneers from ’82,

If I was born then,

I would’ve walked along with you!”

We cannot finalize the history of a Moldavian town, such as Moinesti – this “typical East-European Â«stetlÂ»” -, where the Jews, whose presence was mentioned even before 1800 (on an old tombstone, the year 1748 it is mentioned), with a profound Jewish-Romanian characteristic, had a substantial contribution to the economic, social and cultural development, with hard – working people, with personalities that surpassed the boundaries of their country, a town that went into legend through the formula: “through Moinesti towards Eretz Israel”.

The idea of regrouping the Jewish people came into mind here and also the idea of transition from the Biblical messianic attitude to the modern one. From here, the first groups of Jews started to go on foot to the Holy Land, marking a first moment of the revival of the Jewish State, of the national tongue, making “the dream coming true”. Solomon Sapira, in his volume “O legenda vie – Moinesti” (A living legend – Moinesti, printed in Israel, 1989), writes an important history page, returning way back in time, a book from which we held some data for this short presentation of the town – we thank him for that -, with the regret that we cannot remember all those who wrote their names in the pages of Moinesti. Memories, hopes, pious homage. We also mention that the Madam Beatrice Leibovici, from Moinesti, is preparing a monograph of this town. Old contributor to our magazine, she graduated the “Mihai Eminescu” literature school.

Historical data, regarding Moinesti townâ€¦

â€¢ Founded in 1781, following a “Charter of caimacan Calimachi”), data also offered by Elias Schwarzfeld and historian Iacob Psantir. It seemed like Dimitrie Cantemir himself remembers this in his “Descrierea Moldovei”. The presence of the Jews on these lands is attested from 1740 and 1748, on the basis of the inscriptions found on some tombstones; on the tombstone of the Rabbi Dov ben Iehuda 1740. â€¢ In 1836, in Moinesti, there were 193 Jews, three teachers, and three Hahams. â€¢ In 1844. In “The Charter of Moinesti town” (Prince Mihail Grigore Sturdza) there are some mentions about “the Jews, the Rabbi, and the Haham”. In the same year, Neculai Neculce sells a piece of ground to Rabbi Manascu from Moinesti. â€¢ 1885. The community starts organizing. The 1885 -1893 statistics mention approximately 500 families. There are also mentioned five prayer house; a ritual bath (mentioned also by M. Sadoveanu: “the only public bath was owned by the Jewsâ€¦”); a primary school for boys, founded in 1893, with 125 students; a cemetery. â€¢ 1896 -1899. J.C.A. (Jewish Colonization Association) founded by Baron Rothschild, offers support for erecting a new school. In 1896, there were 183 students. â€¢ In 1899, there were 2,398 Jews – some 50.6% from the entire population. Also then, Theodor Herzl created, in London, “The Fund for Jewish Colonization”, named today “Bank Leumi L’Israel”. â€¢ 1900. The Israelite – Romanian school for girls (“Lumina”) has been opened under the leadership of Mrs. Mina Cusiner, contributor with the “Institutorul evreu” publication. â€¢ 1910. A mixed school has been opened. Here there have been seated “B’nai B’rith” lodge and the youth organizations. Iosif Theiller – the great businessman in the oil production – proposes the creation of a household school. “A maternal school” was created – for children between 4 – 7 years old. â€¢ There were also Hederes: “o small room from outside, unfinished inside, more crowded as Noel’s archâ€¦” (Dr. B. Zeilig); kindergartens. â€¢ A statistic mentions: some 2,410 souls, from whom: 74 tradesmen, 43 tailors, 22 shoemakers, 3 smiths, 6 carpenters, 62 free-lancers, furriers, skinners, brick layers, mechanics, strap makers, typographers, etc. â€¢ 1930. The “Sprijinul” society finances the opening of a kindergarten. â€¢ 1941, July 13. The Jews from Moinesti (400 families) have been evacuated and forced to take refuge in Bacau. â€¢ 1942. Some of them have been deported to Transdniester – to Vapniarca and to other concentration camps. â€¢ Dead or disappeared in Transdniester: Iancu Huna, Mundi Bernstein, Menase Bernstein, Nelu Keyla, Marcel Horn, Suca Solomon, Reznic Lora, Marcel Leibu, Ghidali Grinberg. â€¢ Dead on the “Struma” boat: Arnold Gartenberg with his wife, Schwartz Solomon with his wife and children, Saul Rotenberg. â€¢ In 1947, there were 480 Jews; in 1950 – 400; in 1969 – 15 families. In 1999, only five Jews were left.
â€¢ “And how beautiful are the things in these placesâ€¦ And how about the Jews? When you see them, you feel like kissing them”. (Stefan Luchian) And from this was born the Luchian’s painting, “Hahamul din Moinesti”.

Those unforgotten Jews, too often forgottenâ€¦

VIRGIL MADGEARU: “â€¦the small oil distilleries belonging to the Jews are part of the history of the Romanian oil”

Now, in 1999, when from the old community it leaves only a small community, with only five Jews, we feel more than ever obliged to remember some significant elements from the history of this community. Thus attesting- also in this context -, the real role the numerous Jews from Moinesti have played in the economic life of the country. â€¢ 1840 -1880. B. Schefler, Manase Haimsohn (creators of big wood exploitations); Alick Leibu, Alter Schwartz, S. and Herman Bernstein, Simon Bernstein, D. H. Grinberg, Nathan Zilberman, Herman Theiller (wood exporter), Isac and Matei Grinberg- founders of a state of the art timber factory. â€¢ 1860. Wolf Lazarovici – “the first distillery from Moinesti”. â€¢ Iosif Theiller “was the first in the country to obtain a license for exploitation of a oil well with modern equipment” (Solomon Sapira), with “American-style pumps”. He published the study “Idei economice”. He used the “first systematic saw in the woods of Moinesti and Solont”. He was elected local councilor. “Mister Theiller, who became a Romanian citizen, is the first founder of the gas and paraffin factory in Moinestiâ€¦” (“Fraternitatea”, 1882). Moses Frischoff was exporter of oil, automobile oil, etc. â€¢ Moritz Solomon – he introduces, for the first time, the electricity in Moinesti. He founded the first cinema. We should also mention here the contributions of some exceptional engineers, mechanics, energetic and IT specialists (more recently), many of them with studies abroad – Iulian Cohn, Zicmann Moreno, Berthold Grunwald, Irina Kohlenberg, Liviu Leibovici etc.

By remembering all those names, we also mention that many of them – as the late Moses Rosen said in his memoirs – “lived in dire povertyâ€¦ the tradesmen – as much as poorâ€¦ the water carriers, the shoemakers, the tailors (â€¦) and all the other artisansâ€¦ Many of them were hungryâ€¦ In the late evening, they stayed in the synagogue continuing to learn, because Â«that was, really, their lifeÂ»”.

Dr. BURAH (BUTU) ZEILIG – “doctor of the poor” – a veteran of the war of independence, he was described as “a library from Moinesti”. He contributed with “Hasmonaea”, “Adam”, “Orientari” with studies: “Despre evrei”, “Viata sociala la evrei” etc. He makes translations from I. L. Peretz, Mendele Moiher Sforim etc. For the “Umanitarismul” magazine – said Relgis -, he brings, “for every modern idea, the Jewish equivalent”.

Dr. DAVID SAFRAN: “Let’s not forget that, at the foundation of Israel, the Romanian Jew has an important contribution”

A city that went into legend

“â€¦ my little hometown, in the north of Moldavia, near the Tazlau valley, between Osoiu and Magura mountainsâ€¦ went into legend through that initiative of organizing the first groups of Alia towards Eretz Israel and, thus, it became a well-known name in the country and in the world”. (Solomon Sapira)

“â€¦ there are modern people, more educated, who love their freedom and they care a lot for their dignity. That’s why the immigration to Palestine found such a strong echo in Moinesti”. (M. Schwarzfeld)

“Taking care of improving the life of all the citizens, regardless of their faith or status, because the state laws offer them tolerance and protection. We found out with great happiness that the Jewish people try to cultivate themselves by gaining the useful knowledge and adopting the formulas able to rise their morale and to invite to social relationships”. (Nov. 15, 1847. “Ofisul lui Mihail Voda Sturdza)

Synagogues

â€¢ There were five prayer houses. â€¢ On September 9, 1967, was inaugurated the newly built edifice of the “Elias” synagogue (the board committee: Avram Eger, Sandu Berman, Jean Rosen, Iancu Danil, Burah Cojocaru).

Presidents of the community; Secretaries

â€¢ Mose Frischoff (1900) took part at the Galati Congress, “to allow immigration”. He was the first president from the creation of the community. Ancelovici (1910); Alter Schwartz (1916); Alick Leibu; lawyer Solomon Leibovici (1928 -1941) he was also deputy mayor, he made Alia; Beniamin Haimsohn (1952-1964) he immigrated in Israel; Leon Leventer; Enghelberg Marcel (1964-1984).
From 1984, the leader of the small community, of only five Jews, is RAPHAEL KOHLENBERG, great-grandson of Rabbi Ghidale Westler. The only Jewish man in a once prosperous community, trying with his permanent efforts that “Moinesti not to be forgotten”.

â€¢ Typographies. Towards the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the typographies start to appear in small towns. “Isac Gartenberg” typography published works edited by “Poalei Sion” literary circle and the first translation from Salom Alehem. In 1900, in “M. Rabinovici” typography has been published the brochure “Statutele Societatii de economie Â«UnireaÂ» din Moinesti. Jud. Bacau – Despre scopul, durata si conditiile de admitere a aderentilor”, edited by lawyer Herman Grinberg â€¢ Subscribers: Martin Edelstein, Herscu Wolf, Noe Bilderman, Smiel Meselsohn, Manes Segall, Daniel Budu.

â€¢ Media. “Cuvantul nostru” – newspaper published in 1936, in the typography of Jean Avram. Bimonthly publication of “Dr. B. Zeilig circle” (with the intention to “offer expertise Â«to the multiple local needsÂ», to contribute to “the development of the townÂ»”). There were only two editions.

â€¢ Journalists: Trotusan (alias Hahamul); Dutu Herscovici (Dinu Hervian); Ofer Tehila – the daughter of Isac Grinberg, from Moinesti; vice-president of “The International Association for Feminine and Familial Press”; member of the Israelite Press Council; she took part in the liberation of Negev.

â€¢ Librarians: Iancu Keyla, first world war hero, with the library “La invalidul de razboi”.

Through Moinesti Towards Eretz Israel

The idea of colonizing the agrarian lands in Eretz Israel spread quickly among the Romanian Jews, but the Jews from Moinesti have that particularity that inscribes them in the book of Alia, as founders of the first settlements. In 1875, has been established the “Ishuv Eretz Israel” society (“Societatea pentru Colonizare Agricola in Eretz Israel). A turning point in the new movement of the Jewish national revival took place with the Focsani Conference, on December 30 -31, 1881 and January 1, 1882″(Carol Iancu). At this conference, meant for supporting the Jews that wanted to leave for their ancestors’ land, took part Moinesti Jews Bucsester, David and Mendel Grinberg.

â€¢ 1881 – some 50 families from Moinesti decided to immigrate on foot, out of “love for the Holy Land”, but also with “longing for their native places” (O. Bucsester).

â€¢ 1882 – the Moinesti delegate, Mose David Shub (Mose David Iancovici), Haham, veterinary doctor, leaves to Palestine to buy land for colonization. â€¢ The year 1882 marked the beginning of the Jewish colonization in Eretz Israel. A group of 36 families from Moinesti leaves on foot and with the “Thetis” boat towards the Promised Land; Jews from Bacau and Galati followed them. The natives from Moinesti settled on the lands “named Geauni from the eastern Galilul” and established the Rosh Pina settlement (21 iulie 1882), named “the mother of all settlements in Galil” (“Ima mosavot haGalil”), meaning “cornered stone”, after the verse of the Bible: “The cornered stone overlooked by the builders became the cornerstone”. Here has been created the first elementary school in the country (1884), with Hebrew – language classes. The first forms of protection. (The list of the colons and of the people from Moinesti that made Alia is included in the cited volume “O legenda vie – Moinesti”, by S. Sapira). President: Mordehai Motel Katz; secretary – David Shub.

â€¢ 1882, December 6 . Zichron Iaacov has been established, a settlement supported by the baron Edmund de Rothschild, regarded as “the base of the future Israeli State”.

â€¢ June – July, 1900 – the movement of immigration on foot – “Miscarea drumetilor” – was given a new impetus.

â€¢ 1914, June 1900 – the last manifestation for the immigration on foot.

Three generations

“The first – that of Iosif Lazar, a true Moinesti native, who graduated the Faculty of Mathematics, came back to his home town, as math and Yiddish teacher, at the Israelite School. The second – that of Faibis Phoebus Lazar, the son of Iosif Lazar, who graduated the Superior School for Economics and Accountant from Vienna; after returning in the country – he was secretary of the Jewish Community in Galati. (Between 1940 – 1944, he was interned in a camp). And the third – that of Professor Osy Lazar, the son of Faibis Phoebus, descendant from Moinesti natives, president of the Jewish Community in Bucharest.

AVRAHAM ARIE ROSEN

He was the father of the late Chief Rabbi Dr. Moses Rosen. He guided the Jewish community in Moinesti for 16 years. “How I remember him? Which is his first image, deeply engraved in my soul? Holding me in his arms, dressed in a long clerical robe, with his bright eyes steered on an opened book, inviting me to repeat after him: Alef-Beitâ€¦” (Moses Rosen z.l.). He elaborated “Halahic” studies (of Jewish legislation), “Responsele”, the volume “Saagat Arie” (1912), “Pirkei Sosana” (1920), Talmudic commentaries etc. From 1951, he rests in Jerusalem in Synhedria cemetery.

People for eternity – Dr. MOSES ROSEN (1912-1994)

He was the son of Gaon Avraham Arie Rosen. He was born in Moinesti; he was buried in Jerusalem. In 1948, he was elected Chief Rabbi of the Mosaic Cult, and in 1964 – president of F.C.E.R. In October 1956, he founded “Revista Cultului Mozaic” (in three languages); in 1979 – The Museum of History for the Romanian Jewish Community; he inaugurated a cycle of weekly conferences. In his 46 years as the leader of Jewish community in Romania, almost 400,000 Jews made Alia, and also 3,500 Sefer Torah rolls. He spoke against the xenophobic attitudes and against the inter-ethnic hatred. Numerous distinctions in the country and abroad, in Israel, paid his efforts. He was elected an honorary member of the Romanian Academy (1992). In 1982, he visited the Moinesti community on the 100 anniversary of the establishment of the first settlements in Ros Pina and Zichron Iaacov.

ADRIAN LUPU (1940-1999)

He was an actor, film director, ex – director of the Drama Theater from Galati-born in Moinesti, he was the great – grandson of Haham Strul Soihat. He graduated I.A.T.C., film – directing classes, and he started the Festival of Theater in Galati. At T.E.S., he worked for 15 years as film director, where he staged “Scurt circuit la creier” (1980) and “Dumnezeu – om si diavol”, wining a prize for film – directing. He promoted a valuable repertoire – “D-ale carnavalului”, “Scorpia imblanzita”, “Francisc al V-lea”, “Somnoroasa aventura” etc – in various theaters in the country.

“Adrian Lupu rose to fame through the originality of his repertoire options and his scenic approaches, through the depth of his artistic investigation and the novelty of his means, in dozen and dozens of performances (â€¦). His directing skills reflected on his activity as director of the Drama Theater in Galati, where he proved his wisdom, organizing international festivals, promoting a valuable repertoire and realizing performances welcomed by the audience and by the specialized press (â€¦). Through the disappearance of Adrian Lupu, the Romanian Theater receives a hard blow”. (U.N.I.T.E.R.)

TRISTAN TZARA (Samy Rosenstock, 1896-1963)

Born in Moinesti, he was a well-known name in the European poetry of the 20th century. Exceeding his hometown and his country, he entered in the universal literature. Surrealist poet, the father of the Dada movement, he settled in Paris. He edited the bulletin of the Dada movement.

“Through Tristan Tzara (the universal Moinesti native), we offered a leader of the international literary movement. Dada, maybe the most interesting literary moment in history – not to exaggerate, he made from Dada a literary school – was the work of a Romanian” (Serban Cioculescu). He fought in the Spanish Civil War and in the French resistance movement. In 1992, in Moinesti, it was created “Tristan Tzara literary and cultural society”.

SOLOMON SAPIRA

Born in Moinesti, he graduated the Commercial Academy. In 1941, he was deported in Transdnester camp. His memoirs as a deported Jew have been published in Yiddish in the volume “Pe drumuri de deportare”, terrible memories, pages full of hope: on every Yom Kippur, when the “deportees, seated on the floorâ€¦ prayed for salvationâ€¦ a prayer almost whispered, from people at the end of their strength, almost like a moan, in which despair mixed with hopeâ€¦” In 1979, he made Alia and settles in Jerusalem. We owe him a monograph, “O legenda vie – Moinesti”, published in Jerusalem (1989).

CHARLES GRUBER

Lawyer and university teacher, he was born in 1912, in Moinesti, taking his license in philology and philosophy, and his license and doctorate in Law, he was also a member of the Ilfov Bar. For a time, he worked with Dr. W. Filderman, and then he settled in Paris, in 1948. He was professor of international commercial law with the Institute of Commercial Practice within the Faculty of Law in Paris (1960 -1971). He is author of various articles published in specialized magazines. Rewards: officer of “The order of academic palms” for “services brought to the high education in France”.

HERSCU GOLDNER

Herscu Goldner (d. 1905), typographer, librarian – he published the works of Creanga. He offered his house and typography “to the 1848 movement”. He was decorated with the golden medal for “loyal service”.

ALEXANDRU SEVER

Silberman Solo, born in Moinesti, in 1921, he immigrated in Israel, in 1990. Member of the Israelite Writers Association of Romanian – language, he received the 1991 Prize for Literature of the Jewish Agency (Sochnut). In Romania, he published novels, short stories, drama, and critical essays. He was rewarded the prize of the Union of the Romanian Writers and also the prize of the Association of the Writers from Bucharest. “â€¦ a double root; for an authentic talent, soaked in the magic waters of such a spiritual complex, this can’t be but the reason for an exceptionally fertile creation” (Alex. Sever). He evoked the Jewish community in Bacau – in stories published in the volume “Memoria durerii”.

ALPHONSE SATTINGER

Painter, sketcher, he was born in Moinesti, in 1930. He was member of the Union for the Plastic Artists and of the Plastic Forum (1968). He settled in U.S.A., where he starts great publicity campaigns. He is renowned as landscaper and portraitist. Rewards: The Golden Prize (1987), offered by “New Graphics”. He formed himself as a designer, at the age of 14, in the “Hasomer Hatair” Zionist organization.

ABRAHAM CLAIN

He was born in 1907 – doctor, poet and publicist – he wrote the poem “Prin Moinesti spre Israel”. He translated from Eliezer Steinberg, “Cantarea Cantarilor”, Bialik, Kipling, Arghezi, Evtusenko etc, but also the novel of Franz Werfel, “Musa Dagh”. In 1940, he made Alia. He received the Zion Prize of the “Israelite Writers Association of Romanian-language”. He insisted that: “The tongue of the country is Hebrew. It should express the original energies” (A. Clain).

“My dull town

How dear you were to us

And how thirsty we are

of our old friendships”.

JAN STEIGER

Journalist, born in Moinesti, in 1931, he became noticed in the Romanian – language Israeli press. He was correspondent for Radio Free Europe in Munich.

B. ELVIN

E. Bernstein, he was born in Moinesti, in 1927. Critic and essayist, novelist, he was editor at the Youth Publishing House, E.S.P.L.A., Viata Romaneasca. Today he is editor-in-chief with “Lettre Internationale”. He made from writing a way of living.

RATES NESTOR

He was journalist, politics specialist, and radio commentator. He was born in Moinesti, in 1933. He graduated the Faculty of Philosophy in Bucharest. In 1973, he settled in U.S.A. He worked, for 18 years, as correspondent for radio “Free Europe”. He wrote his first book, in English, about the Romanian revolution in December 1989, “Romania – revolutia incalcita”.